Men love their intimate equipment, and they especially love using it – and who could blame them? A man might get lucky with a new partner on a regular basis, and as long as it’s all consensual and nobody is getting hurt, there’s no reason not to indulge. But as a man plays the field, he must remember that good penis care is more important than ever. He must take special care to protect his penis health when he is with a new partner – otherwise, he could wind up with penis rash, irritation, and lots of other uncomfortable situations.

How to protect penis health with a new partner

Want to make sure penis health stays top notch? Then a man should always take a moment to consider the practical needs of a roll in the hay. Here are a few reminders.

1. Slow down. The initial rush of excitement with a new partner can lead a man to forget about even the most basic rules of a good sex session – and that includes lubricant. As nerves run high, the body might not produce the typical lubrication, which might leave both a man and his partner in dire straits. The best way to avoid this is to slow down as much as possible, extending the session with plenty of foreplay. Only proceed when both partners are ready and raring to go – and their bodies are, too.

2. Use protection. This might be the most important point of any new sexual encounter. Barrier protection can prevent either partner from spreading most sexually transmitted diseases – and as every savvy man knows, these diseases can be serious problems that take a long time to eradicate, if they can be cured at all. By using protection, a man shows respect for his partner as well as an appreciation for his own penis health.

3. Take care with lubes. The well-equipped man might have sample size lubes on hand in the event they become necessary. But he will also be using a condom, so it pays to ensure that he has the right kind of lube to get the job done safely. Look for a lube that is compatible with latex condoms (or whatever other type of condom a man might want to use), then use it generously to ensure nobody walks away with irritation down below.

4. Approach the encounter carefully. A man doesn’t want to drink himself into oblivion and then wake up with an obviously sore, well-used penis, but no memory of how it got that way. Though a little liquid libation might be a great way to get the evening started, a man wants to have a good memory of what happened! He should always take care, then, to balance his intake so that he feels great, but doesn’t feel so great that he blacks out on the details.

5. Clean up thoroughly. One of the best ways to end the initial encounter with a new partner is a nice, hot shower together. A man should jump under the water to clean off his penis and the surrounding area. After all, a good romp will lead to a layer of lube, intimate discharges, sweat and even lotion and perfumes all over the area. Since these things can quickly lead to a penis rash or other irritation, a man would be smart to wash it all away before he goes in for round two.

A man wants to make sure his penis health is considered before, during and after an encounter. That’s why he should make a point of using a specially formulated penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). In addition to vitamin A to fight odor and vitamin C to help a man keep some pep in his penis, a man should look for a crème that contains L-carnitine, which fights peripheral nerve damage that might result from rough handling. He is also advised to use a crème that contains Shea butter and vitamin E, the dynamic duo that will keep penis skin from drying out amidst all that action.

As a small business owner, you know the importance of being able to offer your employees health insurance. You also know the expense associated with it. What do small business owners do? How can they afford it? Well, depending on which state your business resides, there may be government help.

For instance, in the state of New York, Governor Pataki has proposed and Legislature has approved and enacted a program called Healthy NY. This program assists small business owners in providing health insurance for their employees.

Similarly, the state of Ohio, allows Group Purchasing Arrangements (GPA’s). This is where small and large employers may band together to purchase insurance plans and reap the benefit of lower premiums. Some are formed as a result of state legislation/regulation and others GPA’s a re formed by associations.

Kansas has the Kansas Health Partners Benefit Association. Their mission is to help reduce the number of uninsured in their state by helping small business so that they may be able to offer affordable health insurance to their employees.

A bill introduced on to the House of Representatives by Georgia Democratic Representative John Barrow. The purpose of the bill, H.R. 2073: Small Business Health Insurance Promotion Act of 2005 is to “…to provide tax subsidies to encourage small employers to offer affordable health coverage to their employees through qualified health pooling arrangements…”

This is a proposal before Congress. It would have to be passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the President before it is law. Get involved, contact your representative. Tell them to vote in favor of this proposal. After all, we elected them to do our bidding.

Bottom line, if you’re a small business, visit your state’s web site to see what legislation has been passed in your state. Additionally, check to see if there are program in existence that offer you help in providing health insurance for your employees.

An increasing number of companies have acknowledged the health care needs of gay and lesbian employees, as well as their partners. Many large corporations extend health coverage to their employees’ partners, just as they do for the spouses and children of heterosexual employees. However, the majority of family health insurance options on the open market do not make such coverage available.

Health care reform leaves that status largely unchanged. It does not mandate or forbid employers from providing health coverage to the gay or lesbian partners of employees; one-in-five already do. If businesses end up paying higher rates (due to the influx of unhealthier patients with pre-existing conditions, who cannot be charged significantly greater premiums), they may decide to drop coverage of dependents and spouses entirely. That would not have a discriminatory impact on gay and lesbian employees, though.

On the other hand, it will help those who are uninsured largely due to their inability to join their domestic partner’s policy find affordable health insurance. Many will be eligible for subsidies to buy policies.

The House of Representatives attempted to include a provision in the health insurance reform legislation that would fix what most consider to be an unfair burden. Unlike health insurance for opposite-sex married spouses, which is tax-exempt, a same-sex partner’s insurance is counted as income – and therefore taxed at standard income tax rates. An employee must also pay Social Security and other payroll taxes on the value of the portion of the policy their employer covers for their domestic partner. The House’s version of the law would have equalized those tax breaks for family health insurance.

That provision fell by the wayside in the Senate’s bill, and was also ignored in the reconciliation package that helped make healthcare reform law. It is possible that with so many other issues involved, it was simply ignored in order to make its passage more expedient. Another divisive social issue also took away attention: abortion. Unfortunately, Democrats in Congress may not have wanted to risk garnering yet more controversy from social conservatives.

The Senate was also more concerned about minimizing the cost of the bill, making yet another tax break possibly untenable. President Obama would have most likely approved of a provision, given that he recently requested formal regulations allowing same-sex partners to have equal hospital visiting rights to those of immediate family members. Obama only has so much political capital, which he already spent most of to pass affordable health insurance reform.

We’ve recently had an influx of questions from people who are seeking advice on notifying their partner that they’ve had a positive test result. So, with guidance from our medical staff and other experts, we’ve put together a partner notification tip sheet based on the most frequently asked questions.

Why should I tell my sexual partners about my positive result?

If you have an STD, there is a good chance that your recent sexual partners are infected too. It will be important for them to get tested so that they can know their status, get treated and prevent further transmission. Talking honestly with current or potential sexual partners about a positive STD result can be tough, but telling your partner shows them that you respect and care about their health.

Although they may initially be disappointed, shocked or even angry, disclosing a positive STD diagnosis will help protect you from being re-infected and protect your partner from the consequences of an untreated infection such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) that may lead to infertility. Being honest and upfront with your partner gives them the opportunity to make the appropriate choices to protect their sexual health.

How do I tell my partner I have an STD?

Educate yourself: Learn as much as you can regarding your positive result from trusted sources like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or give us a call. Our health care providers are here to help. You will feel a lot more in control of the situation as you learn about your diagnosis. You’ll be able to answer your partners initial questions and will have resources to share in case he/she has questions you can’t answer.

Timing is everything: You definitely want to have this conversation face to face – no texts, e-mails or voice mails. You also want to avoid sharing this information when you and your partner are in a sexual situation. Find a time and place where you can give each other your undivided attention and you have enough time to fully explain and discuss the situation. If you are concerned that your partner may react negatively, choose a safe, public location to share the news.

Start the conversation: “I’ve tested positive for [STD]. You should get tested to see if you need treatment too”.

Give your partner all of the information you’ve learned. Let them know which infection they may have been exposed to, encourage him/her to complete an STD test even if there are no symptoms present, and note the importance of getting tested as soon as possible. The longer they wait, the greater the chance for complications to arise. Sharing your testing experience or offering to go with your partner may ease some of his/her anxiety about the situation.

Prefer to notify your partner anonymously?

You may be able to get help from a local physician, hospital or county health department. Many healthcare providers are willing to confidentially contact former partners on your behalf. Talk to your health care provider about this option or find your local health department.

There are also notification options using eCards. You’ll need to supply the name of the STD your partner may have been exposed to. The card will inform your partner of the situation and provided information about the condition and local testing and treatment options.